- Member since
October 2003
- From: New Hampshire, USA
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Posted by link955
on Tuesday, November 25, 2003 8:10 AM
and from the way back:
Italeri M47 Patton
Italeri Leopard 1A4
These two kits were the pinnacle of Italeri's armor models.
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I agree with these two especially, although I agree with most of the other choices here too. The Leopard kit was engineered almost perfectly as far as I am concerned; the fit was flawless and ALL of the injector pin marks were hidden in subassemblies. Italeri hasn't done this well since, though they have come close once or twice.
As long as we are offering opinions:
Tamiya's Tiger I kits, particularly those with indy track links. In fact, all of Tamiya's track link sets (Tiger I, King Tiger and Panther G) are superior. They are molded in a dark grey metallic plastic, which when you shoot it with a clear flat laquer looks more like steel than any bottled color I have ever used. It's a simple matter to weather them down from there, with dry-brushed applications of rusty shades and bright wear.
Tamiya's Panther kits (all of the newer ones, including the Jadgpanther; forget the 1972-issue "A" model, it's LOADED with innaccuracies, as well as being intended as a motorized kit with all those giant holes in the hull)
Tamiya: Dragon Wagon; FAMO and FAMO with trailer; Stug III; Pzkpfw IV H Early (because you can backdate it to a G or even an F1 or F2); both Marder kits; both Kubelwagen kits; Schwimmwagen; both Steyr kits; new-issue Willys Jeep; and a golden oldie, the 88mm Flak 36/37(needs some work but it's still a kick!).
Dragon: Any of their figure sets. They are the most exquisitely sculpted plastic figures on the market, and the hands and feet are actually in scale! The variety of poses, uniforms, and detail of personal equipment is unmatched. Tamiya's figures are getting there, too. As for Dragon's armor: Any of the HVSS Sherman kits; the early Stug III and Pzkpfw III kits; Stug IV early; Panzerjager IV kits; T34/85 kits; the new-issue Hummel, Nashorn and Hornisse kits (awesome!); and finally the seige mortars "Karl" and "Loki".
I can't say anything about Trumpeter kits, since I have only built the Leopold railway gun; it's a great kit.
Anything from AFV Club; their kits are incredible, though I don't necessarily recommend them to inexperienced modelers. They have a lot of really tiny parts and some tricky, complicated assemblies; but the overall detail is astonishing. Plus they often include turned aluminum gun barrels!
Any of the Skybow kits. Here again they are better suited to the more experienced among us, but their WC-Series Dodge trucks are a blessing to those of us who remember the Peerless/MAX kits which Italeri picked up some years ago. I keep hoping they'll do the WC 56 Ambulance.
I realize my list is restricted to injection-molded kits rather than resin; truth is I never got the taste for resin kits. I use resin after-market sets on occasion, but I usually prefer to make my own details in plastic. I'll climb off now; I may revise this list later
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